Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer of all time and one I followed through media and culture especially in the late nineties. “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see,” was a phrase he often repeated to describe his style in the ring.

As Christian believers, there are parts of the Bible which make us feel warm and fuzzy like butterfly kisses. These passages are the wonderful parts of following Jesus, like…

  • For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
  • God is love. 1 John 4:8b
  • Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
  • And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
  • If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. 1 John 1:9
  • So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

There are also parts of the Bible that challenge us and cause us to go, “Woah! That stings!” The passages which remind us that Christian believers have chosen a standard of living and these passages teach us to ‘spur one another on to Godly love and good deeds,’ like …

  • Everyone should be slow to speak, quick to listen, slow to become angry. James 1:19
  • Be dressed and ready for service. Luke 12:35
  • Do everything without arguing or complaining. Philippians 2:14
  • Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
  • And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
  • My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. James 2:1

I led a Children’s Moment a few weeks ago with a child holding a butterfly pillow sitting on one side of me, kissing my shoulder each time I read a butterfly kiss scripture. On the other side of me sat a child WAY too eager to sting my other shoulder with a bee puppet each time I read a stinger. The congregation laughed as the point was made.

As Christian followers of Christ Jesus we are to follow the whole counsel of the scriptures. If we only pick and choose to live among the butterfly kisses, we’ll never have the liturgy and proper equipping of God’s word for when life gets hard through loss and disappointment, relationships and school become confusing, nor when the littles we lead find following Jesus difficult and require courage.

Last Sunday we taught the Bible account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The Children’s curriculum make the point that when we stand up for Jesus, we’ll be rescued. That is not reality. Instead, we taught, “What causes three 30+ year old men to stand and not bow down to an idol when the consequence is surely a fiery, painful death?” After being taken as slaves, made eunuchs, and lived more than half their lives in Babylon, they followed the God of their childhood. Doing the math, these men were raised from babies until they were 10 years old during the reign of King Josiah. (2 Kings 22 & 23). This math makes my kidmin heart soar!

Teaching children the whole counsel of the scriptures, butterfly kisses AND bee stings, matters now and in the future. 

Still not sure? Spend some time in the Old Testament book of Daniel. It’s not warm and fuzzy. Rather it’s hot and intense, made for teaching and rebuking. Let’s train them to be strong and mighty through the whole counsel of God’s word.

“But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:18